SABR Asian Baseball Committee

Baseball in Asia has a long history. By the 1870s, organized teams existed in Japan and China, and by the beginning of the twentieth century, baseball had spread to the Philippines, Korea, and Taiwan (where it has become the national sport). The past decades have seen the growth of baseball reach into almost every corner of Asia, with national teams from Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, India, Iran, and Malaysia regularly competing in international play. Currently, there are thriving professional leagues in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China. The primary goals of the Asian Baseball Committee are to introduce Asian baseball to the North American public and to focus on the long history of interaction between American and Asian baseball. These exchanges are important topics for both understanding the cultural variations of baseball and also for bringing together scholars from different nations. The committee hopes to achieve these goals by producing and distributing; creating a website; encouraging serious studies of Asian baseball by helping researchers network; encouraging members to publish their studies in the SABR journals, and eventually holding symposium at the annual SABR coventions. For more information contact committee chair Robert K. Fitts by email or by phone at (212) 828-6678.
Books on Asian Baseball Currently in Print
	TAKING IN A GAME: A History of Baseball in Asia Joseph A. Reaves (University of Nebraska Press) A Must for Every Fan of Asian Baseball. This book includes the only histories published in English of Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean and Philipino baseball.
Books on Japanese Baseball
	Japanese Baseball: A Statistical Handbook by Daniel E. Johnson HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Reviews From Booknews This reference provides detailed information on every Japanese pro baseball season and the careers of thousands of Japanese players, including those who have played in major leagues in America as well as many past and current stars of Japanese professional leagues. A chronological format allows readers to easily follow the season-by- season development of Japanese baseball. Contains sections on season summaries from 1936 to 1997, and all-time records, plus appendices on no-hit, no-run games, members of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame, and foreign tours of Japan by professional teams. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Barnes & Noble price $49.95 Follow this link to order Japanese Baseball: A Statistical Handbook from Barnes&Noble.com
	You Gotta Have WA by Robert Whiting The Classic on Japanese Baseball Synopsis from Barnes and Noble.com According to the author "'Wa,' Japanese for 'team spirit,' is the creed of Japanese baseball, played since the 1850s and professionally since 1935.Whiting, a long-time Japan resident, concentrates on the two pro leagues. The Japanese leagues, he reports, believe their severely coached game to be superior to the U.S. game. They discourage Japanese from entering U.S. leagues. A few Americans, usually older ones, have been accepted on Japanese teams, butthey meet {Whiting says} with resentment, criticism, and discrimination." (Libr J) Barnes & Noble price $11.20 Follow this link to order You Gotta Have Wa from Barnes&Noble.com
	Japanese Baseball Superstars: Hall of Fame and Meikyukai Player Profiles by Robert Fitts and Gary Engel 2001 124 spiral bound pages This brand new book focuses on the stars of Japanese baseball before Ichiro Suzuki and Hideo Nomo. It contains the first English language biographies ever of over 150 Japanese stars! Profiles include every player, manager and executive in the Japan Hall of Fame or Meikyukai (Golden Players Club). Printed in English, this 8 1/2" x 11" volume is the first book of its type aimed at an English speaking audience.
	Baseball's Other All-Stars: The Greatest Players from the Negro Leagues, the Japanese Leagues, the Mexican League and the Pre-1960 Winter Leagues in Cuba, Puerto Rico... by William F. McNeil Includes a chapter on the all-time great Japanese players and a statisitical analysis designed to predict how they would have done in the Major Leagues. Barnes & Noble price $29.95 Follow this link to order baseball's other all-stars from Barnes&Noble.com
	The King of Swat: An Analysis of Baseball's Home Run Hitters from the Major, Minor, Negro and Japanese Leagues by William F. McNeil Synopsis: "In search of baseball's greatest home run hitter, McNeil critiques different eras, studies ballpark dimensions and geography, examines player physiques, and ponders day vs. night games." (Libr J) Bibliography. Index. Includes analysis of Japan's greatest homerun hitters. Barnes & Noble price $28.50 Follow this link to order The King of Swat from Barnes&Noble.com
	Through a Diamond: 100 Years of Japanese American Baseball by Kerry Yo Nakagawa
	Japanese Professional Baseball Handbook
	Sadaharu Oh: A Zen Way of Baseball by Sadaharu Oh & David Falkner HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - The Classic on Japanese Baseball A wonderful autobiography of the all-time homerun leader. One of the best baseball books I've ever read. It provides insights on both Oh and Japanese baseball. A must read for all baseball fans. This book is currently out of print.
	Slugging It Out in Japan by Warren Cromartie with Robert Whiting HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - The Classic on Japanese Baseball A highly entertaining recount of Cromartie's years with the Yomiuri Giants. An aewsome book! Find out what its really like to be a gaijin player in Japan. This book is currently out of print.
	Japanese Baseball: A Fan's Guide by Brian Maitland HIGHLY RECOMMENDED From The Publisher Author Brian Maitland is an avid fan of baseball, whether it's played in the U.S., Cuba, or Japan. Japanese Baseball: A Fan's Guide focuses on the Japanese version of the game, covering topics like world records (Sadaharu Oh's 868 home runs); problems like gaijin senshu, the foreign player, Japanese baseball's necessary evil; peculiar strategies like the almost mandatory sacrifice bunt; and bizarre trappings like the hundreds of umbrellas waved by Yakult Swallows' fans to tell an opposing pitcher it's time for the showers. Maitland believes that attending a Japanese baseball game is not just fun but offers insights into Japan and the Japanese people. The same impressive claims can be made for his book. Barnes & Noble price $12.95 Follow this link to order Japanese Baseball: A Fan's Guide from Barnes&Noble.com
	All-Time Japanese Baseball Register by Carlos Bauer Brand New, Not Reviewed Yet. Barnes & Noble price $23.95 Special Order: Ships 3-5 weeks Follow this link to order All-Time Japanese Baseball Register from Barnes&Noble.com
	Nomo: The Tornado Who Took America by Storm by Edmon J. Rodman A short biography of Nomo written for 8 to 12 year olds. Barnes & Noble price $4.76 Follow this link to order Nomo: The Tornado who Took America by Storm from Barnes&Noble.com
	Nomo: The inside Story on Baseball's Newest Sensation by Herb Fagen From The Publisher Baseball has a new sensation! His name is Hideo Nomo, and at the age of 26, the Los Angeles Dodgers' rookie strikeout king from Japan has taken America by storm. This is the only biography available on this charismatic, supremely talented hurler. From his early years in Japan to his meteoric rise to the top of professional baseball, Nomo chronicles it all. Photos. Barnes & Noble price: $4.79 Follow this link to order Nomo: The Inside Story on Baseball's Newest Sensation from Barnes&Noble.com If you have trouble finding a copy, please email me. I can often get copies for around $10 (shipping charges will be added).
Books on Chinese, Korean and Taiwanese Baseball. There are currently no books focusing just on these countries published in English.
	SABR Asian Baseball Committee Home Page

About SABR: The Society for American Baseball Research was established in Cooperstown, New York in August of 1971. The Society's mission is to foster the study of baseball, to assist in developing and maintaining the history of the game, to facilitate the dissemination of baseball research, to stimulate interest in baseball, and to safeguard the proprietary interests of its members' research efforts.
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